Challenges Facing Women And Children In IDP’S Camps In Borno And Yobe States
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kanempress
17th October 2022
The advent of Boko Haram insurgency in the country and particularly the north east region has created havoc to the entire nation. Boko Haram is a terrorist organization founded by Mohammed Yusuf, a militant pseudo-muslim cleric who used sophistry and demagoguery to attract young persons in poverty-stricken neighborhood across the Maiduguri metropolis.
The activities of the group led to the establishment of Joint Task Force (JTF) by the administration of senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the then governor of Borno state in the year 2008.
Sadly, a misunderstanding erupted between the followers of late Mohammed Yusuf and the JTF over the use of helmet. That singular action was the genesis of uprising by the group. In the end, the group took arms on June 28th 2009 resulting in several casualties on both the sides.
The late President Yar’adua gave an order to crush the group and a military team led by the then (GOC Jos division) General Maina attacked the headquarters of the group and brutally crushed the uprising after three days.
RE-EMERGENCE OF THE TERRORIST.
Borno state experienced a peaceful and orderly life for over a year but suddenly, select attacks and killing of police officers and politicians started which created confusion and fear among the entire population.
Several theories were cited as the cause of the targeted killing; yet nobody realized that Boko Haram were the perpetrators of the acts. It was when the then Borno state conventional candidate of ANPP for the 2011 general election, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio was brutally assassinated that the attention of the government was drawn. Following investigation, it was finally concluded that Boko Haram terrorists were the ones committing the heinous assassinations.
MASS MIGRATION OF PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF BOMBINGS, KILLINGS AND ABDUCTION.
The year 2011 was a turning point in the history of insurgency in Borno state, when the sect started killing of school teachers, policemen, politicians, military and all those suspected of being allies of government.
Such activities of Boko Haram led to the mass migration of people to their states of origin or other safe places as sporadic shooting and killing became the order of the day.
The major victims of such attack were women and children, hence! several women lost their husbands and several children were kidnapped while some do not even know where they hailed from. The state government established a state emergency management agency (SEMA) to cater for the needs of the internally displaced persons (IDP’s) as a result of Boko-Haram insurgency. SEMA in liaison with National Emergency Management Agency consequently established various IDP camps across the state in order to cater for the needs of the IDPs.
CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN IDP CAMPS ACROSS BORNO AND
YOBE STATE.
Borno and Yobe state are two worst hit states by Boko Haram insurgency, Maiduguri the capital of Borno was the epicentre of Boko-Haram insurgency, several young women were forcefully abducted and transported to the neighbouring countries by the terrorist while some children were also abducted and converted into the sect by force. Some of these women and children escaped from the den of Boko.
After carefully observing the scenarios the state government started providing basic facilities and other essential needs to the IDPs. Investigation shows that there are over two million displaced persons but the state government alone cannot cater for the needs of all. Hence international NGO’s and other philanthropist came to rescue the victims. Despite the growing number of humanitarian organizations and other individuals who are helping the victims by providing all the necessary support, yet the multitude of challenges continue to grow. Some of the major challenges facing the women and men IDP camps in Borno and Yobe are as follows;
1. Inadequate supply of water for sanitary purposes.
2. Lack of enough toilet facilities.
3. Inadequate use of sanitary pads for women.
4. Lack of enough schools that will cater for children’s educational needs.
5. Sexual harassment of both women and girl children.
6. Inadequate funds from government and other agencies.
7. Abduction of young boys by Boko Haram and child traffickers.
8. Inadequate supply of foods and medicine.
These are some of the major challenges facing women and children in both Yobe and Borno state.
There is a need for funds to relevant NGOs so that extensive research can be carried out in order to identify other challenges facing women and children in Borno and Yobe state
